Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday in an operation performed by renowned foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who also operated Patrick Mahomes in the past. This was an expected development following Andrews' injury last TNF.
The operation followed Andrews' mid-to-long-term injury suffered during the Ravens'Thursday Night Football clash against the Cincinnati Bengals last week ending in victory for Baltimore. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network first reported the news.
#Ravens TE Mark Andrews will undergo surgery on his ankle today in Charlotte with specialist Robert Anderson doing the procedure, sources say. Andrews is likely out for the year, though as John Harbaugh said, there’s a chance he could return if Baltimore makes a deep playoff run. pic.twitter.com/rZigbzWov9
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 21, 2023
Andrews sustained the injury on the first offensive drive of the game because of a controversial hip-drop tackle performed by Bengals LB Logan Wilson. Such type of tackle has drew heavy scrutiny from the NFL competition committee during the offseason, and it's expected to be banned from 2024 on.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, in the aftermath of the game, questioned the necessity of the maneuver but stopped short of endorsing a complete ban. "Was it even necessary?" Harbaugh questioned.
Despite initial concerns about Andrews' injury, Monday's MRI and further testing results offered a more optimistic outlook for the tight end's return later this season, with Harbaugh indicating a possibility of Andrews making a comeback.
On Monday, Harbaugh said there is a "chance" Andrews will return "at some point" later this season, most probably in January with the Ravens already playing postseason matchups.
In response to Andrews' injury, many voices have shared their thoughts about the aforementioned risky hip-drop tackles, including Pro Football Talk's Peter King.
King expects the NFL to ban the maneuver, as many others do, and he wrote in his latest Monday column that he "expects the NFL to move aggressively to erase the hip-drop tackle this off-season."
In the absence of Andrews, the Ravens will move Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar a notch up the pecking order in the tight end depth chart. Baltimore also signed unknown tight end Scotty Washington to their practice squad on Tuesday.